Senior Tattoo Artist & Studio Creative Lead – Full-Time

Welcome to Art + Body Creative Studio, a premier contemporary art gallery collective and the busiest custom tattoo studio in the Bay. Located in the heart of downtown Mount Maunganui, we are a passionate team dedicated to artistic excellence, cultural integrity, and superior client care. Founded by multidisciplinary artist and Tā Moko practitioner Julie Paama-Pengelly, our studio operates as a collaborative creative family. We offer a diverse environment that celebrates everything from customary indigenous arts, Tā Moko to high-end modern realism, blackwork, and vibrant colour tattoos. At Art + Body, we focus heavily on collective success, continuous growth, and industry-leading standards. If you want to elevate your career inside an inspired, beachside creative dreamscape, you will find your home here.

Key Leadership & Artistic Responsibilities:

• Artistic Excellence: Deliver world-class custom tattoo designs and precision applications for a dedicated clientele.
• Mentorship: Provide artistic direction, technique critique, and portfolio guidance to junior crew and apprentices.
• Compliance: Champion and monitor impeccable sterilisation, hygiene, and local health regulation workflows studio-wide.
• Operations: Collaborate on calendar scheduling, workflow optimisation, guest spots and resolving complex client requests.

• Our Ideal Candidate Profile:

  • Experience: 10+ years working continuously inside busy, reputable professional studio spaces, preferably internationally.
  • Leadership: Previous experience managing a creative crew, running studio floors, or successfully mentoring apprentices.
  • Portfolio: An exceptional digital portfolio displaying complete technical mastery over your chosen styles.
  • Professionalism: Total commitment to clean, safe, and positive studio workflows, with top-tier communication skills.